#bigger problems

The plants, the animals, the scenery, all of it at least a hundred times too big for them. Quickly they put up the defense shields against the wildlife and strange weather, but it would be weeks before they could get their cloaking technology suited to the environment. In some last minute attempts to maintain the peace and calm the people’s worries as hysteria broke out, the scouts were sent to survey for danger and gather models for their cloaking tech. It made the people feel like they were doing something, and for now the peace was kept. 

It wouldn’t last.

Detes peers out from inside their hidden camp in the bush. “How long do you think it would take?”

Haro doesn’t look up before she replies, focused on mapping the digital recreation of a ladybug, “How long what would take?”

Detes’ grip on the branch tightens “For us to starve”

At this Haro pauses. Slowly she turns to Detes, “Don’t be so dramatic, the whole planet’s full of junk, some of it’s gotta be edible”

Detes frowns “But what if it’s not?”

With a loud sigh Haro stands, picking up a fallen berry as she does. Walking over with a limp, she tosses the fruit to the fellow scout, who catches it by instinct. 

“Eat this.”

“I can’t! We don’t know if it’s poisonous!”

“Well if you eat it, you’ll get at least one meal, and I’ll know if it’s poison or not”

Detes takes a moment to think. His gaze hardens as he tosses the fruit away. 

On the forest floor, the discarded berry begins to quiver. The woods are overtaken by heavy rhythmic thumps. Haro and Detes’s gazes meet as they realize what it is. 

Footsteps.

Haro pushes past Detes to peer through the bush’s leaves. 

“What is it?” Detes whispers from behind her. 

Haro can’t respond. Her eyes go wide, her antennae’s drooping back in silent terror. Coming towards them is the largest creature she’s ever seen.

A hundred feet tall with too many fingers and not enough shell, it stands on two legs much like them, but just different enough to know something is off. Eyes wet, Head dripping with hairs. And teeth. At least a dozen. Haro barely holds back a scream. 

It’s looking right at them.

“Detes, grab the scooter”

“Wha- why?”

Haro turns to him with eyes blazing “Grab the scooter, NOW!”

Detes runs. He revs up the scooter and helps Haro into the driver’s seat. They fly, motor spitting, crashing through brush and around trees. 

The monster is close behind. It follows them, walking towards them with slow even steps. Getting closer. Getting faster. 

Sweat drips down Haro’s neck as they weave through. Detes holds loosely to her waist, head still turned to watch the creature come at them. As it comes within an inch of grabbing them Detes squeezes Haro close in a death grip, staring in blind fear at the mammoth hand. 

Haro spins the scooter to a halt inside the safety of the ship’s shield. The creature flinches back as it gets zapped by the barrier. Shaking off the pain, it stops to stare at the spaceship in front of them. Curious it circles, watching the people inside as they stop to stare back. 

A hand presses up against the shields. It winces at the shock but doesn’t let go. Instead it pushes. And pushes. And pushes. Until the only protection they have starts to crumble at the touch. 

That’s when the screams start. People are running and an alarm sounds from somewhere in the ship. What little camp they’d created in the past few days gets trampled in the stampede. The beast for what it’s worth does nothing more but watch. As it starts to take its first step forward an electric rope latches onto it. It snags an arm. Then an ankle, next a hand. It stumbles back but too late, as it is overcome with a couple dozen pulling it down. It’s crash is heavy and the dust is slow to settle. 

Detes and Haro watch as the creature is led into the ship in chains. As it passes, it turns to stare them in the eye. Its gaze doesn’t leave theirs until the door closes behind it. It’s face was pale, its hands shaking.